The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between controlled atmosphere (CA), CA+1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and dynamic controlled atmosphere monitored by respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ) with three fruit maturity stages at harvest (early harvest date, optimal harvest date and late harvest date) on 'Galaxy' apple metabolism and quality after harvest and 9months storage plus 7days of shelf life at 20°C. Fruit stored under dynamic controlled atmosphere monitored by respiratory quotient 1.3 (DCA-RQ 1.3) showed lower ethylene production, respiration rate, mealiness and higher flesh firmness in comparison to CA stored fruit, but did not differ from those treated with 1-MCP. The dynamic controlled atmosphere monitored by respiratory quotient 1.5 (DCA-RQ 1.5) increased the acetaldehyde, ethanol and ethyl acetate concentration, regardless of the fruit maturity at harvest. The storage of 'Galaxy' apple under DCA-RQ 1.3 is efficient in keeping quality regardless of the maturity stage at harvest.

The Gala cultivars represent about 65% of the Brazilian apple production, however, it has a short harvest period, making necessary to use technologies that anticipate or delay fruit maturation. A widely used technology is the preharvest application of growth regulators. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of preharvest application of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) combined with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon), on the quality of 'Brookfield' apple at harvest and after eight months controlledatmosphere (CA) (1.2 kPa O 2 and 2.0 kPa CO 2) storage followed by seven days of shelf life at 20 °C. The treatments were: [1] Control: application of water only; [2] NAA (40 g.ha-1); [3] NAA (40 g•ha-1) plus Ethephon (2.0 L•ha-1 24% of active ingredient), and [4] NAA (40 g•ha-1) plus AVG (0.83 kg.ha-1 15% of active ingredient). At harvest, fruit treated with NAA presented a higher level of starch degradation, ethylene production and respiration rate. Fruit treated with NAA plus AVG maintained better quality after eight months under CA storage plus seven days of shelf life, due to higher healthy fruit amount and higher flesh firmness, but this combination reduced the red skin color index. Additionally, NAA plus Ethephon may be an alternative to maintain the quality of 'Brookfield' apple during storage in comparison to the application of NAA isolated.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of storing 'Royal Gala' apple under extremely low oxygen partial pressures on their anaerobic metabolism, ethylene production and fruit quality after 9 months of storage plus 7 days of shelf life at 20 °C. The storage conditions tested were: 1.2 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; 0.7 kPa O 2 + 1.5 kPa CO 2 ; 0.5 kPa O 2 + 1.2 kPa CO 2 ; 0.4 kPa O 2 + 1.2 kPa CO 2 and 0.25 kPa O 2 + 0.0 kPa CO 2. The fruit storage temperature was 1.0 °C (± 0.1). Fruit stored at 0.4 kPa O 2 + 1.2 kPa CO 2 maintained higher flesh firmness and a higher percentage of healthy fruit. The fruit stored under the 0.25 kPa O 2 + 0.0 kPa CO 2 condition had lower flesh firmness as well as a reduced percentage of healthy fruit and a high production of anaerobic metabolism compounds, such as ethanol and ethyl acetate, which may have caused fruit quality loss. The storage of 'Royal Gala' apple under 0.4 kPa O 2 + 1.2 kPa CO 2 is a technique that can be commercially applied to keep a better fruit quality after a 9 months storage period.

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